World video travel guide

NewsNew Zealand • 2011-03-30

Select the country and object's type Three chefs create New Zealand gastro experience

While the traditional Kiwi food experience is often around casual outdoor dining, New Zealand is fast developing a reputation for fine cuisine and high-end foodie events and destinations.

Just this weekend, two international cuisine legends - Heston Blumenthal and Thomas Keller - dropped in aprons-in-hand to create a gastronomic experience for a table of 65 eager foodies in a top echelon New Zealand luxury lodge.

Chef Blumenthal (the man behind The Fat Duck) and Chef Keller (of The French Laundry fame) - each worth at least three Michelin stars - cooked up a storm at New Zealand’s iconic Cape Kidnappers weaving their culinary magic with New Zealand seafood and other unique local ingredients.

The surrounding Hawke’s Bay region produces top New Zealand lamb, specialist gourmet foods, and some of New Zealand’s top red wines.

Five-star resort

Nineteenth century British explorer Captain James Cook originally named Cape Kidnappers after local Maori who attempted to abduct a servant from his boat, but in the 21st century it’s most famous as the setting for an exclusive American-owned five-star resort The Farm at Cape Kidnappers.

The Farm is about as high-end as New Zealand gets, and guests enjoyed three nights in a luxury suite with the sound of the sea pounding the rocks below, a chance for 18 holes of golf on the international golf course, as well as food to die for.

On the night dinner guests included New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and his wife Bronagh. Prime Minister Key said it was "great to see world class chefs showing off the best of New Zealand cuisine."

Six-course feast

The Farm’s head chef - Kiwi Dale Gartland - and his staff worked alongside Blumenthal and Keller to create the six-course feast.

One of New Zealand's best known and most influential chefs, Gartland was singled out by UK Condé Nast Traveller's 2011 Gold List when The Farm at Cape Kidnappers won the Best Hotel for food category in the Australasia and South Pacific region.

"We can't believe we have got to work with Thomas and Heston," Gartland told the NZ Herald. "We have learned a lot over the last couple of days with different techniques and ingredients."

The result was one of the most sumptuous meals ever seen in New Zealand.

Blumenthal - famous for dishes like snail porridge, and bacon and egg icecream - added a New Zealand twist to another favourite called ‘sound of the sea’ which involves conch shells and mini-iPods.

"Here we used local seaweeds, so it's a Hawke's Bay sound of the sea," he said.

Keller’s contributions included a lime-cured paua (New Zealand abalone shellfish) with honeydew melon, compressed cucumber, basil and avocado puree.

Gartland said the Kiwi contingent built up a camaraderie with the chefs over the two days but still referred to them as "Chef Keller" and "Chef Blumenthal".

Background: Hawke’s Bay

A premier New Zealand food and wine region, Hawke’s Bay is a foodie’s heaven stocked with fine wine, fresh produce and gourmet dining destinations.

The Hawke's Bay wine region covers several sub regions, each known for particular wine styles including Gimblett Road, the Triangle, Te Mata, Ngatarawa, Esk River and Maraekakaho. Hawke’s Bay is best known for award-winning reds (merlot and cabernet sauvignon), but white varieties such as chardonnay are also receiving recognition.

With 42 of 70-plus vineyards offering cellar door experiences, there are many opportunities to enjoy Hawke’s Bay wine in either heritage or ultra modern surroundings. Many wineries have restaurants or alfresco dining, while vineyard cycle tours take advantage of a relatively flat landscape and pleasant climate.

Regional food highlights - a wide variety of fresh produce and artisan products - feature on the food trail. The easily navigated gate-to-gate trail takes visitors to meet producers and sample local flavours.

Hawke’s Bay farmers' markets sell local food and produce. On Saturdays in Napier and Sundays in Hastings, shoppers can buy fresh produce and delicacies direct from growers and producers.

Background: Luxury lodges

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers is one of three super-luxury lodges owned by American art collector and philanthropist Julian Robertson and family.

Kauri Cliffs Lodge, Golf Course & Spa is situated at Matauri Bay in Northland and Matakauri Lodge, which opened in August 2010 is near the South Island resort of Queenstown.

All three offer world-class accommodation in some of New Zealand’s most picturesque locations and have been recognised internationally with a number of awards.

Condé Nast Traveler named The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs as 'No. 1 Lodge/Resort in Australia + Pacific' in the 2010 Readers' Choice Awards readers' survey.

Dale Gartland is one of New Zealand's best known and most influential chefs - recently singled out in UK Condé Nast Traveller's Gold List 2011 when The Farm at Cape Kidnappers won the Best Hotel for food category in the Australasia and South Pacific region.

Gartland oversees the menus for all three acclaimed New Zealand properties - Kauri Cliffs, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers and Matakauri Lodge - which provide world-renowned dining experiences.

Background: The chefs

Heston Blumenthal and Thomas Keller are among the most prominent chefs currently working in the world.

Thomas Keller is best known for his landmark destination restaurant in Yountville, California - The French Laundry, which he opened in 1994. He now has eight restaurants and two bakeries in the United States, including the renowned Per Se in New York City.

Heston Blumenthal opened The Fat Duck in the United Kingdom, which gained three Michelin stars in 2004. Blumenthal has received worldwide recognition for his unique approach to gastronomy, and has been described as a culinary alchemist for his innovative style of cuisine.

RSS RSS All news

Related objects

Auckland

Cities Auckland

Auckland is the largest city of the country. Sky-scrapers and noisy streets of downtown, peace and quiet of one-storey residential districts; fine beaches, scenic bays, great shopping

Otago Region

Regions, areas, large resorts  
Otago Region

Rotorua

Cities Rotorua

Rotorua - famous thermal resort in New Zealand, cultural centre of Maori aborigines; Valley of Geysers; mineral baths; shear show.

Matamata

Cities Matamata

Matamata - tiny town, that became world famous as Hobbiton - hobbits habitat (in Lord of the Rings film trilogy); green meadows, fields, dense forests.

Routeburn Track

Extreme tourism and Walking  
Routeburn Track